Nanometer scale data storage device and associated positioning system

• US 6,507,553 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Terraspan LLC
• Original Assignee: General Nanotechnology LLC
• Inventors: Kley, Victor B.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIET TUAN
• Application Number:
  US09/852,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20020003211A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 369/126, 369/101, 369/44.14, 365/151
• US Class Current: 369/126
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 1/84 Inspecting
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70375 Multiphoton lithography or multiphoton photopolymerization; Imaging systems comprising means for converting one type of radiation into another type of radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G03F 7/70483 Information management; Active and passive control; Testing; Wafer monitoring, e.g. pattern monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2005/0021 Thermally assisted recording using an auxiliary energy source for heating the recording layer locally to assist the magnetization reversal
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 21/02 Driving or moving of heads
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/232 Manufacture of gap
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 5/3116 Shaping of layers, poles or gaps for improving the form of the electrical signal transduced, e.g. for shielding, contour effect, equalizing, side flux fringing, cross talk reduction between heads or between heads and information tracks G11B5/3113, G11B5/245 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/14 using microscopic probe means , i.e. recording or reproducing by means directly associated with the tip of a microscopic electrical probe as used in Scanning Tunneling Microscopy [STM] or Atomic Force Microscopy [AFM] for inducing physical or electrical perturbations in a recording medium; Record carriers or media specially adapted for such transducing of information marking using electrical current B41M5/20; measuring roughness or irregularity of surfaces G01B7/34; details of scanning-probe microscopes G01Q
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/1418 Disposition or mounting of heads or record carriers G11B17/00 and G11B19/00 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/1427 with provision for moving the heads or record carriers relatively to each other or for access to indexed parts without effectively imparting a relative movement
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/1445 switching at least one head in operating function; Controlling the relative spacing to keep the head operative, e.g. for allowing a tunnel current flow
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 9/1454 Positioning the head or record carrier into or out of operative position or across information tracks; Alignment of the head relative to the surface of the record carrier G11B9/1445 takes precedence

Abstract

A data storage system that includes a positioning system for positioning the write/read mechanism and the storage medium of the data storage device with respect to each other in first and second predefined directions. The positioning system comprises a positioning apparatus comprising microfabricated first and second positioning assemblies. The positioning system further comprises a controller to position a positionable support structure of the first positioning assembly in a first predefined direction within a range of positioning that is larger than the range of movement of a moveable support structure of the first positioning assembly by controlling (A) a stationary support structure clamp in clamping and unclamping the positionable structure to and from the support structure, (B) a moveable structure clamp in clamping and unclamping the positionable support structure to and from the moveable support structure, and (C) the movement of the moveable support structure. In one embodiment, one of the write/read mechanism and the storage medium is carried by the positionable support structure so that it is positioned with the first positioning assembly. The other one of the write/read mechanism and the storage medium is positioned with the second positioning assembly. In another embodiment, the positionable support structure carries the second positioning assembly and one of the write/read mechanism and the storage medium is positioned with the second positioning assembly while the other is held stationary. In several embodiments, the read/write mechanism is used to mechanically write data to and electrically read data from the storage medium. In still another embodiment, the read/write mechanism is used to optically write data to and electrically read data from the storage medium. In yet another embodiment, the read/write mechanism is acoustically aided in electrically writing data to and reading data from the storage medium.

Claims

1. A data storage device comprising:

a deformable storage medium;

one or more write probes each comprising;

a write tip comprising a highly obdurate coating capable of deforming the storage medium;

a write tip positioning apparatus to position the write tip with respect to the storage medium; and

one or more read probes each including a conductive read tip;

a probe and storage medium positioning apparatus to position the read and write probes with respect to each other; and

a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the write probes over the storage medium, (B) during the write mode, control each write tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding write tip a predetermined amount into the storage medium so as to cause a predetermined amount of deformation in the storage medium representing data written thereto, (C) during a read mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the read probes over the storage medium, and (D) during the read mode, produce and measure a tunneling current between each conductive read tip and the storage medium to identify a predetermined amount of deformation caused in the storage medium below the corresponding read tip during the write mode so that the data written thereto is read therefrom.

2. A data storage device as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

one or more heater elements below the storage medium;

the controller controlling during erase modes at least one of the one or more heater elements to heat the storage medium until deformations caused thereabove in the storage medium are removed.

3. A data storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein:

each read tip further comprises;

a core material with a sharp end;

an insulating coating over the core material but not at the sharp end; and

a conductive coating over the core material at the sharp end and the insulating coating; and

the controller (A) during an erase mode, controls the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the read probes over the storage medium, and (B) during the erase mode, produces a current between the conductive coating and the core material of each read tip to heat the storage medium below the corresponding read tip until a deformation caused in the storage medium below the corresponding read tip during the write mode is removed.

4. A data storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the highly obdurate material comprises diamond.

5. A data storage device as recited in claim 1 wherein the highly obdurate material comprises carbon nitride.

6. A data storage device comprising:

a deformable storage medium;

a plurality of probes each comprising;

a tip comprising a conductive highly obdurate coating capable of deforming the storage medium; and

a tip positioning apparatus to lower the tip;

a probe and storage medium positioning apparatus to position the probes over the storage medium; and

a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the probes over the storage medium, (B) during the write mode, control each tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding tip a predetermined amount into the storage medium so as to cause a predetermined amount of deformation in the storage medium representing data written thereto, (C) during read mode, control the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the probes over the storage medium, (D) during the read mode, control each tip positioning apparatus in lowering the corresponding tip close to the storage medium, and (E) during the read mode, produce and measure a tunneling current between the conductive obdurate coating of each tip and the storage medium to identify a predetermined amount of deformation caused in the storage medium below the corresponding tip during the write mode so that the data written thereto is read therefrom.

7. A data storage device as recited in claim 6 or further comprising:

one or more heater elements below the storage medium;

the controller controlling during erase modes at least one of the one or more heater elements to heat the storage medium until deformations caused thereabove in the storage medium are removed.

8. A data storage device as recited in claim 6 wherein:

each tip further comprises;

a core material with a sharp end; and

an insulating coating over the core material but not at the sharp end;

the conductive highly obdurate coating being over the core material at the sharp end and the insulating coating; and

the controller (A) during an erase mode, controls the probe and storage medium positioning apparatus in positioning the read probes over the storage medium, and (B) during the erase mode, produces a current between the conductive highly obdurate coating and the core material of each tip to heat the storage medium below the corresponding tip until a deformation caused in the storage medium below the corresponding tip during the write mode is removed.

9. A data storage device as recited in claim 6 wherein the conductive highly obdurate material comprises diamond doped to be conductive.

10. A data storage device as recited in claim 6 wherein the conductive highly obdurate material comprises silicon carbide doped to be conductive.

11. A data storage device as recited in claim 6 wherein the conductive highly obdurate material comprises carbon nitride doped to be conductive.

12. A data storage device comprising:

a storage medium alterable by light;

one or more light emitting write probes capable of emitting light;

one or more read probes capable of detecting alterations of the storage medium;

a positioning apparatus to position the read and write probes over the storage medium;

a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the write probes over the storage medium so that the light emitting write probes are over the storage medium, (B) during the write mode, control each light emitting write probe to emit a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium and write data thereto, (C) during a read mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the read probes over the storage medium so that each read probe detects a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium caused during the write mode, and (D) during the read mode, measure each detected predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium so that the data written to the storage medium during the write mode is read therefrom.

13. A data storage device as recited in claim 12 wherein:

each light emitting write probe includes a write tip comprising;

a core material with a sharp end;

a light emissive coating over the core material; and

a conductive coating over the light emissive coating; and

the controller is coupled to the core material and the conductive coating of each light emitting write tip to apply across them during the write mode a voltage of predetermined amount so that the sharp end of the corresponding light emitting write tip emits a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium.

14. A data storage device as recited in claim 12 wherein:

each light emitting write tip comprises a porous material; and

the controller is coupled to each light emitting write tip to produce during the write mode a current of predetermined amount in the porous material of the light emitting write tip so that it emits a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of alteration of the storage medium.

15. A data storage device as recited in claim 14 wherein the porous material comprises porous silicon.

16. A data storage device as recited in claim 12 wherein:

the storage medium comprises;

charge storage cells each storing a charge alterable by light; and

one or more conductors around the charge storage cells;

each read probe is conductive; and

the controller (A) during the write mode, controlling each write probe to emit a predetermined amount of light so as to cause a predetermined amount of charge in a corresponding one of the charge storage cells to be leaked off so as to write data thereto, (B) during the read mode, controlling the positioning apparatus in positioning each read probe over a corresponding one of the charge storage cells to detect the predetermined amount of charge therein leaked off during the write mode, (C) during the read mode, measure the detected predetermined amounts of charges leaked off so that data written during the write mode to the corresponding ones of the charge storage cells is read therefrom, and (D) during an erase mode, controlling at least one of the one or more conductors to transfer a predetermined amount of charge to the charge storage cells therein so as to restore the charges therein leaked off during the write mode.

17. A data storage device comprising:

an electrically alterable storage medium;

a triangular ridge support structure;

one or more triangular ridges on the support structure;

a positioning apparatus to position the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium;

an acoustic wave generator on one of the triangular ridge support structure and the storage medium to produce surface acoustic waves thereon that propagate in a direction parallel to the axial length of the triangular ridges; and

a controller to (A) during a write mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium so that each triangular ridge is over a corresponding region of the storage medium to be written, (B) during the write mode, control the acoustic wave generator to produce an acoustic wave, (C) during the write mode, apply at a predetermined time across each triangular ridge and the storage medium a voltage pulse having a predetermined voltage and duration while the acoustic wave produced during the write mode propagates so that a region of the triangular ridge above the corresponding region to be written is displaced down theretoward and the corresponding region to be written is electrically altered by a predetermined amount, (D) during a read mode, control the positioning apparatus in positioning the triangular ridge support structure over the storage medium so that each triangular ridge is over a corresponding region of the storage medium to be read, (E) during the read mode, control the acoustic wave generator to produce an acoustic wave, (F) during the read mode, detect with each triangular ridge at a predetermined time while the acoustic wave produced during the read mode propagates so that a region of the triangular ridge above the corresponding region to be read is displaced down theretoward a predetermined amount of electrical alteration of the corresponding region to be read, and (G) during the read mode, measure each detected predetermined amount of electrical alteration of the corresponding region to be read so that the data written to thereto during the write mode is read therefrom.